Using x264VFW codec

[Tafflad]

I want to create H264 files for streaming sites.
Have installed x264vfw in VD - never used it before .. and there are a lot of options ….

I have seen that I should aim for

• High Profile
• 2 consecutive B frames
• Closed GOP. GOP of half the frame rate.
• CABAC
• Variable bitrate.
• Chroma subsampling: 4:2:0

I have set as per the following (found a youtube video on this codec)



Couple of questions …….

Files will be going into Vegas .. eventually to be rendered out with Sony AVC/MVC which I’m advised is the best H264 option in Vegas.

# Vegas is happy to accept x264vfw files onto timeline, is there any benefit to converting wrap to mp4 first ?

# The mention of B frames & GOP … where/how do I set these ?

# And in general what is the difference on the settings :
Preset , Tuning, Profile & levels drop down options ?

Or is there a configuration guide somewhere to explain this ?

[pippas]

Or is there a configuration guide somewhere to explain this ?

Click on the "?" symbol in the bottom right hand corner of the configuration window to check the settings you have selected, and then refer them to a parameter list like this:
http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/x264_options_explained_page_2.cfm

....to check out what does what.

(You don't need to set your CRF setting as low as 15 - you'll simply make the files bigger for no extra visual quality. You're unlikely to need less than 18 - probably slightly higher- for encoding standard def footage..)

[Tafflad]

Not very easy to follow ... I don't really want to use command line if its no needed.
All I need to know is how to set the 4 drop down menus ... and that does not seem to be covered on that link. (probably aimed at advanced users)

However my searches have turned up advice not to use x264vfw (in avi) and talk about using VD and external codec into MP4 ... so need to find out how to do that as well.

[SameSelf]

Please forgive me if I sound a little rude or confused but, your workflow seems a little flawed. If your goal is to convert the videos to MP4 in order to bring them into Vegas to edit then render them out again as Sony AVC/MVC, that is not advisable due to generational losses. x264 is a delivery format for viewing, not an editing format despite the fact that Vegas happily accepts x264vfw. If Vegas does not accept your master files as-is, then you should consider transcoding them to a more editable format, not x264. Some will suggest lossless, but those can be big. I prefer ProRes, but some don't like using that on anything other than Macs. Others will suggest MPEG-2 Intra only. DNxHD is also an option. Bottomline, there are numerous better options than x264.

[pippas]

However my searches have turned up advice not to use x264vfw (in avi) and talk about using VD and external codec into MP4 ... so need to find out how to do that as well.

Yes, there are many comments on the net about just how 'old fashioned' and 'out of date' VFW is. But it's hard to beat the simplicity of converting your intraframe edited files into h.264, using the x.264vfw codec from within Vdub itself..... or even to frameserve your intrafame files direct from Vegas...

I reckon you'd find it hard to beat the default single pass CRF option -- possibly with the exceptions of reducing the CRF value itself a little, and ticking the 'Virtualdub Hack' box to minimise any audio sync problems.

But if you're keen to experiment further, you'll probably find about a million suggestions on which is the best way to go!

[Tafflad]

[QUOTE=SameSelf;2433039]Please forgive me if I sound a little rude or confused but, your workflow seems a little flawed.
Vegas will happily accept Lagarith or Grass Valley Lossless

I was only going to convert to x264 as the final render will be H264 (Sony AVC/MVC) ... and thought it better I line things up so input media was same file format as final output .............. if you think that is flawed approach (and I have no reason to doubt your comment - and welcome them) ... then I'll ignore the step and instead once I have finished my work in VD .. leave in lossless and use direct in Vegas.

It will save me a step

[Tafflad]

But it's hard to beat the simplicity of converting your intraframe edited files into h.264, using the x.264vfw codec from within Vdub itself..... or even to frameserve your intrafame files direct from Vegas...

I reckon you'd find it hard to beat the default single pass CRF option -- possibly with the exceptions of reducing the CRF value itself a little, and ticking the 'Virtualdub Hack' box to minimise any audio sync problems.

But if you're keen to experiment further, you'll probably find about a million suggestions on which is the best way to go!

That is what I have been playing with today ..........
Found (I think) the optimum settings for the drop down boxes ................

My intent was to save this out of VD as x264vfw ... then as you suggested (in previous post) re-wrap to mp4 with MkvToMp4... then use those as my input files into Vegas.

Will this be degraded approach compared to post#6 (leaving as lossless)

[pippas]

... then use those as my input files into Vegas.

Now I am lost!......why would you want to put your final .x264 converted mp4 output files back into an editor??

(I think that's the same point SameSelf is making..)

[SameSelf]

Vegas will happily accept Lagarith or Grass Valley Lossless

I was only going to convert to x264 as the final render will be H264 (Sony AVC/MVC) ... and thought it better I line things up so input media was same file format as final output .............. if you think that is flawed approach (and I have no reason to doubt your comment - and welcome them) ... then I'll ignore the step and instead once I have finished my work in VD .. leave in lossless and use direct in Vegas.

It will save me a step

Yes, if your masters are already lossless then encoding them to x264 for input into Vegas is a wasted step unless your computer can't easily keep up with lossless files in Vegas. That is one of the reasons the intermediate formats exist; they are easier on NLE's.

[Tafflad]

I'll try and explain ... (even if it sounds flawed)
I have a load of DV captured files from old VHS tapes.

I'm using Avisynth & VD to deinterlace, clean up, deshake, adjust basic levels & colours. etc.
Things that VD is very good at.

I need to save as 'something'

Then a whole number of files in that 'something' will be crafted into a movie, adding cuts, fades, transitions, overlays, soundtrack etc. ...... all the things an NLE does very well. All saved at stages and end of VD stage in Lossless format.
Then when finished compiled videos will be final Rendered as 720p H264/MP4

So VD is an intermediate step ... not the final one.

From your comments .... it looks like that 'something' would be best kept as Lossless (which they are and load that direct onto Vegas timeline ............ my trying to help (my putting in in x264 in advance seems is an unnecessary step)


Using x264 will still be useful, for any videos in future I will not be putting into Vegas and uploading direct .......... I'll put them in x264vfw and re-wrap to MP4 with MkvToMp4

I like the scripted version using x264 external codec, putting directly into mp4 and avoiding need to rewrap. ............ but that is for another time.

[SameSelf]

I applaude your efforts to clean up the VHS footage. Just be aware that the masters are your original DV files not the lossless VD exports. So I wouldn't be worried about saving those. IOW, there are only two files I ever worry about saving: 1) the original masters and 2) the final encodes. Everything else is just a temporary intermediate in my eyes.

[pippas]

From your comments .... it looks like that 'something' would be best kept as Lossless

Yes -- or (as I keep suggesting!) possibly HQX if there are lots of files....
Stored as lossless, that will need a lot of room - even if only temporarily.

Conversion to the final H.264 output format (using x.264vfw in this case) should only be done once.....at the very end of your project.

[Tafflad]

I applaude your efforts to clean up the VHS footage. Just be aware that the masters are your original DV files not the lossless VD exports. So I wouldn't be worried about saving those. IOW, there are only two files I ever worry about saving: 1) the original masters and 2) the final encodes. Everything else is just a temporary intermediate in my eyes.

No intent to keep the Lossless ... it is intermediate only ..

capture DV -> into VD out as Lossless -> Lossless back into VD out as Lossless -> Lossless into Vegas out as H264/mp4